Patent GB-1423528-A (GB)
Title: System and method for operating a cycle steam reheater in a turbine system for generating electrical energy
IPC: F01K7/24
Filed: 1973-01-22
Abstract: 1423528 Steam turbines; interstage re-heat WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP 22 Jan 1973 [27 Jan 1972] 3154/73 Heading FIT [Also in Divisions F4 and G3]  Relates to control of the re-heating given to wet steam from a high-pressure turbine section 30, Fig. 1 exhaust as it passes through respective re-heaters before passing to each low-pressure turbine section inlet. The temperature at each LP turbine section inlet is monitored e.g. by a  respective thermocouple T/C-1 --- T/C-N and valves RVI-RVN in the heating steam supply paths to the re-heaters are controlled by a system 90 accordingly whereby to ensure that the LP inlet temperatures are regulated with respect to time to meet predetermined criteria depending upon the operating mode pertaining and prevent excessive thermal stresses of turbine parts as a result of too high a rate of increase of inlet temperature . The mode is selected in a mode controller 95 either manually or by means of a computer controller 700 in dependence upon monitored operating parameters of the turbine system e.g. the pressure (PI - - - PN) in each turbine section, and the megawatt (MW) loading of a generator 12 driven by the turbine. The power to drive the turbine generator Fig. 1 is derived from a nuclear power reactor 19. Heating steam for the re-heaters is obtained by diverting some of the turbine cycle steam supply to the HP turbine, at point 39, via a respective shut-off valve SO and re-heater control valve RVI to the respective re-heater(s). MODE CONTROL Six modes can be selected manually by pushbutton switch controlled mutually-interlocking relay circuits Fig. 6 (not shown) which prevent more than one mode being selected at a time. The modes are:-(i) CS mode-cold start; wherein the LP inlets temperature are raised linearly from 300F to 500F over 1 hour. (ii) T mode-re-heat valves are positioned to maintain LP inlets at 400F after load reductions to 10% or less of rated power output. (iii) H mode-hot start-re-heat valves are opened quickly to position equivalent to LP inlet temperature of 400F. (iv) R (reset) modere-heater valves are closed. (v) M (manual) modere-heat valves controlled manually. (vi) CP modeoverall system controlled by computer 700 in accordance with calculations, the computersetting the control into either the CS, T, H or R modes. The seventh mode TL (temperature limit) is automatically selected for protection of the LP turbine sections.  CONTROL SYSTEM  In the control system 90, Fig. 2 detailed in Fig. 3 (not shown) the thermocouples inputs T/C-I to T/C-N are compared in respective amplifiers with inputs from a cold thermocouple junction TCC. Thus the output of each amplifier is a function of the increase in the respective LP turbine inlet over the cold state, and is fed to a circuit CTC which selects the highest. The "auctioneered" output of CTC is a function of the highest inlet temperature detected and is normally compared at 100 with a signal from a low load temperature reference 110L. The comparator 100 output gives the sense and is proportional to magnitude of the error or deviation from the reference temperature value (400F). This output is fed via either a hot start rate control resistor 250H or a low load rate control resistor 250L to a ramp generator 350 which controls via a function generator 400 and amplifier 500 the respective actuators 50 controlling the re-heater valves. When in the cold start mode (CS) a voltage reference provided by a unit 300 is connected through switch K2X to the ramp generator 350 resulting in a ramp output therefrom to position valves RVI-RVN so that over a one hour period the LP inlets temperature rises from 300F to 500F. A reset circuit 380 clamps the ramp output to a predetermined minimum level so as to substantially close the re-heater valves when in the reset mode. When the high temperature limit (TL) is  exceeded, as determined by a comparator 200, the comparator 200 output operates relays KIR and TLR to switch the reference input to comparator 100 from low load to high temperature. This causes the ramp generator to decrease output tending to close the re-heater valves RV. All other modes are locked out when the temperature limit mode is automatically switched in.